Service Project Ideas
- What services does our school/community need?
- What other community organizations could use our Interact club’s assistance?
- Can we collaborate with our sponsoring Rotary club or a local Rotaract club on their service efforts?
- What types of community service projects fit within our club’s budget?
International projects usually require correspondence between members of Interact clubs in different countries and may sometimes involve an exchange or visit. Establish ongoing correspondence with a club before planning an exchange or a visit. Correspondence can include photos or yearbooks, a meeting conducted by telephone, or a regular exchange of e-mail or letters. The following resources are available for contacting a club in another country:
- Interact Correspondence Exchange List, available from the RI Secretariat and updated every September. This list includes contact information for Interact clubs that have indicated an interest in corresponding and exchanging with other clubs.
- District Interact chairs in other countries. Ask your district Interact chair for a list of chairs from around the world, or contact the Secretariat for a copy.
- Internet. Search the Internet for the home pages of Interact clubs.
Because Interact clubs are self-financed and keeping dues low is important, the best way to finance club service projects and other activities is through fundraising. The basic rule to remember when raising funds is that you must offer something of value in return. Examples of successful Interact fundraisers include car washes, food festivals, raffles, walkathons, rummage sales, fashion shows, and benefit performances.
Community Facilities
- Respond to a serious community need by volunteering at a clinic or shelter for abuse victims or at a drug treatment center.
- Find a building to use as a community youth center or plan a multiuse community center.
- Plan community-improvement projects such as cleanups, tree plantings, and fairs or celebrations.
Youth Programs
- Start activities such as art classes, sports leagues, and tutoring sessions.
- Mentor young children.
- .Help children gain access to services they need such as medical treatment, meals, and safe places to play.
Help for People with Disabilities
- Ensure that buildings and parks are accessible to people with disabilities.
- Coordinate an outing or a short trip for people with disabilities.
- Distribute donated medical equipment and supplies such as wheelchairs, eyeglasses, and crutches to assist people in low-income communities.
Health Care and Nutrition
- Educate community residents on health concerns by organizing awareness campaigns (e.g., AIDS walk, immunization campaign, blood drive).
- Volunteer at a clinic or hospital that focuses on a group with special needs, such as underserved women or families affected by disease.
- Fund nutrition and agriculture education in developing countries.
Education and Literacy
- Coordinate the collection of books for students and for class libraries at home and abroad.
- Volunteer at a literacy center and read aloud for recorded books.
- Provide child care for parents attending literacy classes.
Hunger and Food Banks
- Start a seed bank and provide training to impoverished families to enable them to raise food in their own gardens.
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
- Coordinate a hunger banquet to raise funds and awareness of the issue.
Preserve Planet Earth
- Support beautification projects such as urban gardens, parks, woodlands, and greenbelts.
- Help needy communities obtain safe water and sanitation systems.
- Organize a community program to collect and sort glass, paper products, and other recyclable materials.